Join the United Church campaign in working for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel.

The United Church of Canada encourages United Church members and others to become involved in the search for a just peace between Palestinians and Israelis by contributing to the end of the occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

The third week of September is a time for people of faith to join in worship, prayer, education, advocacy, and action in support of an end to the occupation of Palestine and a just peace for all in Palestine and Israel.

After two years of pondering and waiting, hoping and praying, training and studying to serve as an ecumenical accompanier (EA), my flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv arrived.

I landed on time, excited and very alert despite the long full flight, crying children, murmuring families, and the sleepless night. As I walked by the walls adorned with images of famous Israelis, I summoned all my dramatic arts skills as I approached the immigration desk. I was immensely relieved to be asked only one question, "Is this your first visit to Israel?" My energetic...

About 1,300 Christian Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, enduring three wars in five years along with their Muslim neighbours. Israel controls the land, sea, and air around Gaza, with one crossing into Egypt through Rafah controlled by Egypt and monitored by the European Union in coordination with Israel. The Near East Council of Churches (NECC) works in Gaza with both communities, focusing on providing education and health care to a population under blockade.

The United Church of Canada mourn with the families of those killed in Gaza, and pray for the recovery of the many injured. The United Church stands in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian partners in condemning the recent violence against the unarmed protestors in Gaza. The call to action for United Church people is to ask the Canadian goverment to call for an immediate end to the violence and take an international leadership role in negotiating just peace in the region.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

—Margaret Mead

I have heard this quote often. So often that when I hear someone starting to say it I begin to think, “Oh no, isn’t this a bit of a cliché?” But I don’t completely go there—because I still believe there is truth in it. Indeed, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens change the world (or their world) in the direction of love, justice, and mercy; this has happened more times than we will ever know.

From April 25 to 27, I and other United Church and Mennonite Central Committee colleagues are going to Ottawa to meet with members of Parliament, senators, and government officials. We are privileged to have as part of this delegation Michael Lynk, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories (Michael is a Canadian and Professor of Law at the University of Western Ontario), as well as Brad Parker, who is International Advocacy Officer and Attorney with Defense for Children International—Palestine (DCIP). DCIP is a Mission & Service partner of...